Lamp condition indicator



Oct. 26, 1937. G. B. MEMMEL LAMP CONDITION INDICATOR Original Filed Dec. l0. 1951 4 .Sheets-Sheet l Invcnlor 'i Z By Homey Ost. 26, 1937.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J5 56 z nvenlor 1)/ Q3 J0 /67 49 evrje Bemme .54' 49 4 Y f A J/ Il I By 53,..

`llorney Oct. 26, 1937. Q B, MEMMEL 2,097,335

LAMP CONDITION INDICATOR Original Filed Dec. 10. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 `/qllomey Oct. 26, 1937. G. B. MEMMEL 2,097,335

LAMP CONDITION INDICATOR Original Filed Dec. lO, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES LAMP CONDITION INDICATOR George B. Memmel, Milwaukee, Wis., assigner to Theodore W. Hallerberg, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 10, 1931, Serial No. 580,154 Renewed January 22, 1937 Claims.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in electrical indicating means, and the same has as its principal object the provision of means for installation on automobiles and other places for indicating the condition of incandescent lamps. y l

Another important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can be readily installed on an automobile for indicating the condition of the different lights on the automobile, such as the bright and dim headlight bulbs -and the tail light bulb.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification. 1 l

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 represents a-front elevational view of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 represents a side elevational view of the device.

Fig. 3 represents a vertical sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 4 represents a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 5 represents a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 represents a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the apparatus.

Fig. 'I represents a front elevational view of the frame.

Fig. 8 represents a the frame.

Fig. 9 represents a side elevational view of one of the permanent magnets.4

Fig. 10 represents a vdiagrammatic view disclosing the electrical "connections between the electrical devices involved.

rear elevational view of Fig. 11 represents a vertical sectional viewv Fig. 15 represents a perspective view of one` of the conductor brackets.

Fig. 16 represents a perspective'view of one of the conductor plates.

Referring to theA drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seenv that numeral 5 represents a cylindrical housing open at lits front end and closed at its rear end and provided at its top portion with three longitudinally extending slots 6 through which the elongated bossesv 1, 8 and 9 protrude as in the manner substantially shown in Fig. 3.

On the bosses 1 and 9 are a suitable number of binding posts III, while extending through openings in the boss 8 are the screws Il, I2, I3

and I4, the upper ends of the screws I2, I3 and I4 beingprovided with knurled heads I5, while the upper end of the screw II is provided with a slotted screw head I6. Each of these screws H to I4 inclusive is provided with a stop collar II, so as to bear against the'inner side of the semi-cylindrical shaped shell I8 of the aforementioned frame so that the screws are rotated without varying their positions with respect to the shell I8.

The screws ii to I4 inclusive are employed for varying the positions of the magnet cores. The front end of the housing 5 is provided with a removable plate I9 which has a pair of square openings 2li-2i in the upper portion thereof. Screws or like'members 22 may be employed for securing this plate I3 to the corresponding end of the housing 5. The aforementioned frame which includes the shell I8 has a pair of downwardly curved and diverged arms 23-23 which have openings 24 in the lower ends thereof, registering with like openings 25--25 in the lower ends of the straight arms 26-28 which depend from the rear end of the shell I 8.

Disposed between the arms 23 and 26 and .through the openings 24 and 25 are the parallel rods 21, which extend through the eyelets 28 on the pole pieces of the permanent magnets 29, 30 and 3i.- 'Ihese' permanent magnets are circular in shape excepting from the cap to accommodate the armature blocks 32 on the shaft 33, there being one block for each of the magnets 29, 30 and 3l, and these armature blocks 32 are of substantially egg shape.

Numeral 34, represents an elongated metallic strap provided with upstanding bearings at its ends for supporting the shaft 33 in the manner substantially shown in Fig. 6.

Located adjacent each of the screws I2, I3 and I4, is a substantially invertedlL-shape ern-e 35 which has an opening in the horizontal portions thereof, through which the corresponding screws I2, I3 or I4-is threadedly disposed and on each of the screws between the horizontal lar I'I is a compressible coiled spring 36.

On each of these cores 35 is a small coil 31.

The lower end of each of the cores 35 is oil'set for disposition within the magnetic field of the corresponding permanent magnet 23, 30 or 3l, and the lower end is formed arcuately for magnetic afinity with the corresponding armature block 32.

At this point, it is to be understood, that the aforementioned shaft 21 is preferably constructed in section and reduced as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 at one end portion so that spaces may be employed thereon for maintaining the magnets 29, 30 and 3I definitely spaced apart.

An inverted L-shaped core 38 has its horizon- 'As is cleariy shown innig.: 1 0, thecous imc.

the screw." the core can be elevated' or lowered as desirec l. ..0n this'core l30 are'the coils 30 and the lower end of thecore is in magnetic flur re form shunt windings o, b and c for the coilsi the armature members-,3 2 wilifjbeiequalizedxfor maintaining the 'shutter- '48` in"afpositloiiobstructing view'thru any one of the openings. 2|,

20 and 46b.

@Ursel engagera@ mamen circuit-:e1 sin be deenergized and t: comseetnesneemditc con a1 `and its companion shunt coil b will not be ener- This: same accommodation exists when i 31' which vare controlled bythe screwsf|2,=i i3 andif-thecircuitel is energized and the circuit 06 is '|4.v Between .the arms which depends from the shell I8 is the" bridge' piecejll suppo' "ing the lamp socket 42 'in whichtiie'lanp I3" is" 7. placed and this lamp is located l5. parent colored screen Il.'

Numeral 45 represents an arm dese escepting that the corresponding coils tl 1ecircuit6l arev energizedfwhile the corresponding" coils of the circuit 00 are de- '1 l -fl-"Thusfit can be seen that in the event, for example, the bright iilament circuit is the snorted,

lign thgbright'iilament circuit 6.6-

' Uupwardly from the shaft 33' and carries anL elofnl 'in which instance,considerably more current will '-`f''gated transversely shutter 46 .-faisitsi` thru the 'orwardend.coil 31,in iatmore- 1 'uppe r end, which isv suniciently=- long; tot'- cover ill. A`so thanitscorrespondingshunt coila which will 20 li'othoi the openings 2| vand20so thatho iight result-'intheiswingingotthe corresponding ar- ``^'-'from2thelainp43can"be visibletherethrurl .fi :-element .40.fcarry1ng-with lt the shaft 33 Referringto Eig, 10,-it seen'tliat minier-.ff -g tofswing the .shutter .48 toward the left v(see Fig. al '41. represents the usual automobile battery and 1) to expose the openinggl which is identined on "from this;v the lead .8 connects 5to ione side oi'tl1e the front plate I9 to,v indicate theshort. .With the 25amm'eter '40.'5Nunierali0 'represents' aispecial' shutter in this.position,-theupper..opening 4Gb which includes the substantially"Y-shaped.'v .Nvillialsoy be vxposedfglsofthat light will .Pass contacter 5|, and to this, by way oi-Athe con-'-.throughtwo openings-@The idea-is, that in the -f-.ilfe @etal-49 YNuinerels 53 and; represent 80 rugtishgped fcgntactfl'f platesY stationarili -mantenerme/between.thescplatesafethe cua-1- i tthat the 'formerlcan fei'ther onefpfithet.-

as-cntact ss roristwhiic the-annonce From'thefbntact- 55 4este I only. 'engage the contacts 54:1 1

Vcis-'a ':onductatd` 59,

the shutter will exposetworopenings eitherl openings 20 ndsbfl .zlend 45.13.106, Iedily attract, fcthe driverfszattention.: Y f.

zo the-correspondingiarniaturegelement 4 0 ,to swing the shaft 33 into the opposite direction. tothe "f-"wbin connectsto thecou 'T31 'associated with;Y xiircction theres shorncircuit.

extending-- fromthe Econio'tact 56 is 'a conductor so which'ieds' to onesidefmand theopenins 4.6.1? simu1taneous1y..the.shutter of the coil 31 which is`a'ssociate'liwitlr'thc'niagcontact plate 54 to thecoil 31 'which-is associated with f The vremaining side of thelast-nientioned coil 31 'connects tov the taiilamp 62, while the rem'aining side-of the coil '31 of the magnetS is connected 'by way of the conductor S3 to'the dim headlight circuit St while the remaining 'side 55 ductor $1 which is connected to' the dash lightl ing apparatus,

of the coil 3l associated-with themagnet 29 is connectedby way of the Vconductor 65 to the bright headlight circuit 66.' 1 f' Y Extending from the contact plate 53 is a con- EB and a branch wire 69 extends from this wire .5? to the aforementioned'lamp 43 in the indicat- It can be seen that normally, and before the switch 50 is operatedfthe shutter 69 65 is in position obstructing `i'.,lie..openings 20 and structing the` uppermostV opening 4Gb.- "The'ront of the casing is provided with another openinga to any desired shape, and this is "provided e5 with transparent window 3b and'throu'gh this:l

light from "the-*oulb'Sfis-ccnstantlyvisible rethe magnet 3i asinth'e manner shown in .s 45 siglos f When a stop'fligh to extend aconductor'll .from theoutward side of the ammetei 4#Sto the switch blade |02 which isoperableagainst the contact |03 and controlled bythe usual foot break pedal |04. From the contact lllfextends the wire |05 and this connects to one side of the electromagnet 5 the .opposite side o f vtheelectro-magnet |06 being connected as at |01 to the stop light |00.

A U-shapedy spring ,|08 has its ieg portions IUS-|09. curved.- longitudinally and this spring |08 is mounted upon the magnet |05 in the manner substantiaily shown in Figs. l0 and 1l. Numeral H0 represents a swingable armature which norniaiiy has its contact end urged upwardly against the contact IH by the spring i12.

A wire `Us extends from this contact m .to me shunt coil H4 on the core which is also common to Ithe aforementioned shunt windings a, b and c.

Situated below the contact end of the armature H0 is thestationary contact H5 which has a wire H5 extending .therefrom whichconnccts to the shuntwinding i il also on the same form which is common to the aforementioned shunt windings'.

It can now be seen, that normally,when the switch blade i02.is operated against the contact |03, current-will pass through the wires |05 and |01 to the stop light |00, vthe spring |08 prevent ing the armature H0 fromengaging the contact H5 but nevertheless permitting suiiicient inov'ement of the arm to insure spaced relation from g5 va, b and c, and in this manner theposition o the contact iii, while the stop light is energized.

Thus it can beseen, that the amature assumes a midway position between the contacts and ||5 when' the stop light |00 is energized and while this stop light circuit is in operative condition. However, in the event the stop light circuit becomes open, current will pass through the contactor |02 through the wire |06 and as the coil |06 cannot be energizing, current will ilow thru the connections ||3 directly to the armature III, and from there current will pass through the wire ||3 to the shunt winding ||4. This will overbalance the armature shaft 33 and will swing the shutter 48 toward the right (see Fig. l) to expose the openings 20 and 46h.

However, in the event of a short circuit. energization of the coil |06 is increased when the switch at the break pedal |04 is energized so that the amature will overcome the resistance of the spring |08 and will engage the contacts ||6. Current will then pass from the wire |06 to the amature ||0 and from there thru the wire ||6 to the shunt coil and this will have the effect of moving the amature shaft 33 in any direction opposite to the direction which it is moved when the stop light circuit is open, that is, in the eventv the illament of the lamp burns out. I

This tail light relay includes a di-electric base plate ||3 provided with upstanding lemi plates |20-|20. A plate |2| forms the bottom for the di-electric base IIS, while upon the di-electric base ||3 is disposed the plate |22 having an upstanding lug |23 thereon and also an upstanding ear |24 at one end. The lug |23 is located adjacent an. opening |26 which registers with like openings in the plate ||3 and plate |2| as well as the plate |26 which is provided at one end with an upstanding flange |21 on its opposite end is reduced as at |20 and provided with an upstanding gear- |20.

'Ihe plate |26 is insulated from the plate |22 by the di-electric plate |30 and upon the plate |26 is a di-electric plate |3| having an opening therein for receiving the lug |33 which incidentally extends through the opening |32 over the plate |26. The di-electric plate |3| also has an opening for receiving the lug |33 on the plate |26. The ear |24 is equipped with a binding post |34, while plate |26 has its ear |29 equipped With the binding post |35.

A member |36 extends through the opening |26 in the aforementioned plate and secures the coil |06 thereon.`

Numerals |31 and |33 denote vertically disposed U-shaped members, the leg portions oi which are disposed horizontally, and each of these U-shaped members |31 and |33 is provided with a binding post which are denoted by numerals |33 and |40 respectively.

I'he upper ends of the members |31 and |36 carry the aforementioned contacts and and these members |31 and |33 are secured in place by means |4|. l

Numeral |42 represents a hood having side walls and end walls |43 and veach wall has a slot |44 thereon for accommodating the corresponding binding post. Wires |45 extend from the aforementioned lugs |23 and |33 to the cor responding sides of the coil |06. 'I'he operation of the foregoing details of the relay has been given hereinbefore.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in speciiic terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without de parting from the spirit and scope'of the invention as claimed hereinafter. n

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:-

l. An indicating system including, a plurality of electric circuits operable in combination, a pair of coils in each of said circuits, a lamp in series with one oi said coils in each circuit, an armature movable within said coils and adapted to assume a predetermined position when the current flow in said coils is normal, another position when said current iiow in one of said coils is interrupted or less than normal, and a third position-when said current ilow in one oi' the coils is above normal, and visible indicating means connected to and voperable by said armature.

2. A system of the character described comprising a source of current, a plurality of lamp circuits, an indicator shaft, magnetic means including a coil in each o! the lamp circuits adapted for moving the indicator in one direction, shunt windings each connected by conductor means to a corresponding magnetic coil for operating the indicator in the opposite direction, said shunt windings and magnetic coils being adapted to actuate the shafts selectively, said shunt windings and magnetic coils being connected to the source of current in parallel to each other.

3. In a vehicle lighting system, more than two lighting circuits adapted to be operated in combination, a pair of coils in each of said circuits, a lamp in series with one oi' said coils in each circuit, an armature ,movable by said coils and adapted to assume a predetermined position when the closed circuits are normally effective, another position when any one of the circuits is interrupted or less than normally eiective, and a third position when the current of any one oi' the circuits is above normal, and visual indicating means connected to and operable by said armature.

4. In a vehicle lighting system, more than two lighting circuits adapted to be operated in cornbination, a lamp in each of said circuits, a circuit in parallel with each oi' said lighting circuits, a coil in each ot said circuits and in each of said parallel circuits. an indicator light circuit in parallel with said lighting circuits, a common armature iniluenced by the current flow in said coils to assume a predetermined position when all of said circuits are closed and normal, and another predetermined position when any one of said circuits is defective, indicating means having predetermined register with said indicator light when said armature assumes either of said predetermined positions, and connection between said indicating means and said armature.

I5. In a vehicle lighting system, more than two lighting circuits operable in combination, a lamp in each of said circuits, a circuit in parallel with each of said lighting circuits, a coil in each of said lighting circuits and in each oi' said parallel circuits, an indicator light circuit in parallel with said lighting circuits, a common armature movable by said coils and adapted. to assume predetermined positions when the current flow in said coils is normal and abnormal, visual indicating means illuminated by said indicator light, and connection between said indicating means and said armature.

GEORGE B. 

